The Alfred

The Alfred Providing leading healthcare for the people of Melbourne & Victoria. Alfred Health is a leading metropolitan health service in Melbourne, Australia.

For all the latest information about The Alfred and our visiting hours please visit www.alfredhealth.org.au/visitors We pride ourselves on giving our patients and our community the best possible health outcomes by integrating clinical practice with research and education. Alfred Health provides a comprehensive range of specialist services including Australia's busiest trauma centre. We also operate one the largest and most advanced intensive care units (ICU) in the southern hemisphere. Alfred Health offers almost ever form of medical treatment across our three locations at The Alfred, Caulfield Hospital and Sandringham Hospital. Recognised as a national leader in health care, Alfred Health has a commitment to biomedical research. We are also known for excellence in training for medical, nursing, allied health and other support staff. This is further enhanced through partnerships with Monash University, La Trobe University, and several internationally recognised medical research organisations such as the Burnet Institute.

When 53 year old Theresa was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2019, there was no one more important to her than ...
08/09/2025

When 53 year old Theresa was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2019, there was no one more important to her than her brother Travers and his partner of 20 years, James.

“They have been my rocks, and their love has been my foundation throughout life,” Theresa said.

Supported by the Spiritual Care team to help make meaning of her life and illness, Theresa recognised the grief she held at the prospect of not being able to see Travers and James get married.

“I love James like he is my own brother and I wanted to celebrate their love for each other and my love for them.”

Two days later, with the help of The Alfred community, Travers and James were joined by close family and friends as Theresa walked them down the aisle of the hospital’s Spirituality Centre.

“It was an amazing day - heartbreaking - but also full of joy,” Travers reflects.

Facilitating moments of connection is at the core of spiritual care in healthcare, says Spiritual Care Manager Reineke Ryan.

“People often wonder what spirituality is – it's what makes someone who they are and how they connect with the world around them."

“This will hopefully be a precious memory for the family to hold onto as they continue to reflect on life, and we’re pleased to stand beside them in part of that journey.”

Congratulations Travers and James.

We’ve kicked off this year’s Critical Care Appeal at home in the Alfred’s retail precinct! If you stop by for a coffee ...
05/09/2025

We’ve kicked off this year’s Critical Care Appeal at home in the Alfred’s retail precinct!

If you stop by for a coffee or a meal you’ll see the 3AW pop up studio where you can hear some of our Alfred Clinicians chatting about the work they do on the airwaves.

This year’s appeal is raising money for Mobile ECPR, an advanced form of life support - commonly only offered in specialist hospitals - to take over the function of the heart and lungs to patients in the community after cardiac arrest.

Mark Wohlers, whose life was saved by Mobile ECPR, joined Mornings presenter Tom Elliott alongside the trial’s co-lead and intensive care specialist Dr Sacha Richardson to chat about the lifesaving intervention and the technology behind it.

Stay tuned for the rest of today and tomorrow morning to hear about the amazing work being done – or better yet, donate here: https://alfredappeal.org.au/

Recently Julie and Bill travelled from Gippsland to get to know their daughter’s “other family”. “We’re Natalie’s biolog...
01/09/2025

Recently Julie and Bill travelled from Gippsland to get to know their daughter’s “other family”.

“We’re Natalie’s biological family, but she also has a work family who are important to her,” Julie said.

“And that makes them important to us, which is why it’s nice to put a face to the names and join all the dots.”

Along with 150 other families, they attended The Alfred Intensive Care Unit’s family night. Held annually, it’s an opportunity for staff to invite their loved ones into the hospital for a behind-the-scenes look at what they do.

Natalie said it was a special opportunity to give her family insight into her role as a Nurse Educator.

“I’m quite proud of the work I do as well as the work of the hospital,” Natalie said.

“So I really wanted to show them the interesting and amazing things the ICU do every day.”

Bill said he was struck by the scope of practice carried out by ICU Nurses.

“There’s more to it than you think and it's changed over time," Bill said.

“Nurses do very technical work, and there’s a lot that happens when they’re working at the bedside.”

When 79 year old John was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he assumed he had a long road to recovery in front of him.Inst...
22/08/2025

When 79 year old John was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he assumed he had a long road to recovery in front of him.

Instead, the Melbourne man has become one of the first patients in an Australian-breakthrough trial which is cutting the number of sessions required for radiation therapy to the whole prostate by more than half.

As part of the trial for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, John has only needed to attend The Alfred twice, rather than five times.

“Once the team decided radiation therapy was the best treatment for me, I was offered the opportunity to participate in the trial which I said yes to immediately," John said, pictured with members for The Alfred's radiation oncology team.

“I knew that not only did it mean fewer radiation therapy sessions for me, it meant I’d be contributing to something bigger, and be part of shaping what treatments will look like for others in the future.”

The trial, which commenced this month, is designed to significantly reduce the impact and inconvenience of treatment on patients, particularly those living in regional areas, while still achieving similar outcomes and minimising treatment related side effects.

Read more: https://bit.ly/45vq0LQ

Did you know that 1 in 3 Australian women are living with migraine? It’s the latest big discovery to come out of this ye...
19/08/2025

Did you know that 1 in 3 Australian women are living with migraine?

It’s the latest big discovery to come out of this year’s National Women’s Health Survey conducted by our friends at Jean Hailes for Women's Health.

Our very own Alfred neurologist Dr Emma Foster joined to give a little more information about the condition, especially as it relates to women's health.

Two international dermatologists visited The Alfred Precinct recently to mark the official launch of the SkIIN Discovery...
18/08/2025

Two international dermatologists visited The Alfred Precinct recently to mark the official launch of the SkIIN Discovery Program, a partnership dedicated to investigating how cutting-edge technology and translational research can be used to manage common skin disorders.

In the meeting of the minds, Prof Harald Kittler (Austria) and Prof Colin Flemming (Scotland) joined researchers from The Alfred and Monash University to delve deeper into understanding the benefits, limitations and considerations of using artificial intelligence to advance skin research and hear about the latest studies taking place at the Precinct.

“We have world-leading skin researchers and clinicians here onsite, and this program allows us to harness that expertise and combine it with cutting-edge informatics, to develop the best therapies for patients both here and across Australia,” said Prof Johannes Kern, Director Dermatology at Alfred Health, Prof Dermatology at Monash University, and Co-Head SkIIN Discovery Program pictured with Prof Victoria Mar, Director Victorian Melanoma Service at The Alfred, Adjunct Prof at Monash University, and fellow Co-Head of SkIIN.

Clinician researchers at SkIIN (Skin Inflammation, Informatics and Neoplasia) Discovery Program, a partnership between The Alfred and Monash University, are currently investigating more effective ways to diagnose and treat skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and skin cancer, using biological data and artificial intelligence.

As a scrub scout nurse (“On TV we're the ones handing it over when the surgeon says ‘scalpel!’”) Brigitte knows first-h...
14/08/2025

As a scrub scout nurse (“On TV we're the ones handing it over when the surgeon says ‘scalpel!’”) Brigitte knows first-hand how much surgical equipment is used in hospital operating theatres.

“These pieces of plastic are from a sterile surgical instrument wrap as well as our single use consumable products,” Brigitte said.

“Single use products are often unavoidable, so I think it is important to do our bit to recycle as much as we can of their packaging”.

Brigitte heads up The Alfred’s operating theatres Green Team, and is helping to pilot a soft plastics recycling program.

“We easily fill up a big bin or two per day with all the plastic we collect from each theatre,” Brigitte said.

Rather than heading to landfill, the plastics are sent for advanced recycling, where they are broken down into chemical components resulting in crude oil. The oil is then reused in plastic manufacturing, contributing to a more circular and sustainable system.

“There’s a lot in operations that can’t be recycled, but if we can take care of one stream of plastic waste, it will make a big difference.”

As part of today’s Cancer Nurses Day celebrations, we welcomed Federal Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Rebec...
14/08/2025

As part of today’s Cancer Nurses Day celebrations, we welcomed Federal Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Rebecca White MP who met with some of our specialist cancer nurses at the Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre.

The group, representing patient-facing care, clinical trials and research, spoke of the importance of strong leadership, education and development opportunities, mentorship and being recognised for their specialist skills.

This year’s Cancer Nurses Day theme of ‘Strong, skilled, and specialised’ represents more than just the work being done at the bedside, said Ellen Heywood, Deputy Director of Nursing and Operations at Alfred Cancer.

“These words reflect the spirit you bring to work every single day,” Ellen said, who was joined by Jemma Still, CEO Cancer Nurses Society of Australia, at a special morning tea later.

“You inspire hope, ease fear, advocate fiercely, and create moments of comfort for patients and their families facing the uncertainty of cancer.”

“Today, we honour not just your actions, but your character – the compassion, courage, and expertise that make such a profound difference.”

A big thank you to all our cancer nurses across Alfred Health for the important, and lifechanging, work you do every day.

Michael Nolan was just 34 when he was diagnosed with silicosis, a deadly lung disease mostly seen in workers from the ar...
08/08/2025

Michael Nolan was just 34 when he was diagnosed with silicosis, a deadly lung disease mostly seen in workers from the artificial stone benchtop industry.

"I knew something was wrong, I was really struggling to breathe," said the Melbourne father of two.

After working as a stonemason for over 16 years, he experienced extreme shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue and persistent cough, leaving him unable to continue in the job.

Now, Michael is one of the first patients involved in a world-first trial at The Alfred to halt the progression of the debilitating disease.

With no approved treatment currently available, experts hope the use of a targeted anti-inflammatory drug is the key to turning the tables on silicosis.

The trial, which is in its early stages, has been made possible by a three-year funding commitment from Zaparas Lawyers.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Ulue27

When uni student and basketball athlete Oscar Mugerwa shares his story at The Alfred’s Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related ...
06/08/2025

When uni student and basketball athlete Oscar Mugerwa shares his story at The Alfred’s Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) program, a hush goes over the audience who hang on his every word.

“They realise just how fragile the human body is,” Oscar said.

“You can see it on their faces, they're reconsidering decisions they’ve made in the past, or might in the future, knowing it could be life altering as in my case.”

After having drinks with friends on Chapel St, Oscar decided to get in a car and drive home – only to wake up in hospital with multiple, severe injuries to his lower body.

“Later I found out I was detected driving at 120km per hour in a 60 zone and wrapped the car around a pole,” Oscar said.

During his presentation, Oscar describes the tough journey to where he is today – including multiple surgeries, a lower leg amputation, stressful navigation of the court system and many months in rehab learning to walk again.

“It’s definitely a massive wake up call for them,” Oscar said.

Open to all young people aged 16-25, along with their family and friends, PARTY is designed to give participants a better understanding of the consequences of risk-taking behaviours.

As well as a chat with Oscar, PARTY features presentations by experienced Alfred Health clinicians, walk-through tours and interactive demonstrations.

The next PARTY program will be on Tuesday 19th August from 5.30 - 8.00 pm. Tickets are just $10 and can be booked here: https://bit.ly/45nJOzt

Vic Wiggins' graduation from The Alfred transplant gym represented more than just the end of a twelve week program.The h...
05/08/2025

Vic Wiggins' graduation from The Alfred transplant gym represented more than just the end of a twelve week program.

The heart transplant recipient had spent the last 54 years living with a congenital heart condition, severely impacting his quality of life and meaning he could only dream of doing some of the things he loved with his teenage son.

“It was really hard not being able to exercise safely and continue pursuing my hobbies – it had an impact on me physically and mentally,” Vic said.

After a lifesaving heart transplant in early 2025, Vic threw himself into making the most of his second chance by joining the hospital's specialist gym, designed to support heart and lung transplant patients to prepare for and recover from their surgery.

“I was suddenly able to exercise without fear, knowing I had experts all around me, and could get myself into the best position possible to recover,” Vic said, pictured with Alfred senior physiotherapist Lou Fuller (left) and his wife Sue (right).

But the benefits weren’t just physical.

“The comradery in the gym is what makes it special,” Vic said. “You’re hanging out with people who are just like you.”

“No one knows what it’s like to wear those shoes, unless you’re in them.”

Read more of Vic's story here: https://bit.ly/45akexu

As of this week, Alfred Health's Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) is home to not one, but two incoming Presidents o...
31/07/2025

As of this week, Alfred Health's Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) is home to not one, but two incoming Presidents of large international organisations in the field of sexually transmitted infections.

Professor Kit Fairley will serve as President of the International Union Against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI), while Professor Eric Chow will become President of the International Society for STD Research (ISSTDR).

“We believe this could be the first occasion where both Presidents are from the same institution,” Prof Chow said.

“For us, these appointments reflect the global recognition of MSHC’s leadership and impact in sexual health research.”

More here: https://bit.ly/4mo8DlG

Address

55 Commercial Road Melbourne 3004
South Yarra, VIC
3004

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Alfred posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Alfred:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

Our Story

The Alfred is a leading metropolitan health service in Melbourne, Australia. We pride ourselves on giving our patients and our community the best possible health outcomes by integrating clinical practice with research and education. The Alfred provides a comprehensive range of specialist services and we’re home to Australia's busiest trauma centre, treating major trauma patients from across the state. We also operate one the largest and most advanced intensive care units (ICU) in the southern hemisphere.

Patients come to The Alfred for specialty services like comprehensive cancer care, respiratory medicine, cardiology and cardiovascular services. We run 14 statewide services including burns, heart and lung transplant, melanoma, HIV, psychiatry intensive care, bariatric and more. We are the only hospital in Australia to perform paediatric lung transplants. Recognised as a national leader in health care, The Alfred has a commitment to biomedical research. This is made possible through strong partnerships with Monash University, La Trobe University, and several internationally recognised medical research organisations such as the Burnet Institute.